After the Tailgate: The 10 most intriguing bowl matchups

Like most bowl seasons, the time to get excited is around New Year's. This year is no different.

There are plenty of bowl matchups to choose, but not necessarily ones with much intrigue or entertainment value.

College football fans shouldn't be surprised. When one game matters during a bowl season, it comes down mostly to a fan base's passion and the pageantry of select bowls. After that, and until 2014 (the first year of the four-team playoff) is here, the bowl season can be hit or miss.

We here at After The Tailgate try to help out. Let's break down the top 10 most intriguing and entertaining bowl matchups, from 10 to 1:

Here we go:

-- 10. GoDaddy.com, Kent State (pick 'em) vs. Arkansas State, Jan. 6, 9 p.m.: The only dot.com game among the top 10 pits teams with a combined 20-5 record, but also teams without head coaches. Kent's Darrell Hazell took the Purdue job, while Guz Malzahn left Arkansas State after one year for Auburn. Still, expect plenty of offense in this one with all-purpose athlete Dri Archer of the Flashes. Arkansas State has won seven straight games, averaging 41 points during that streak.

-- 9. Capital One, Nebraska (+8.5) vs. Georgia, Jan. 1, 1 p.m.: It's interesting to see what happens when a team loses in its conference championship game, as was the case with the Cornhuskers and Bulldogs. Georgia had much more to lose when Alabama grabbed the final spot in the BCS title game with a win in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Nebraska was humiliated by Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.

-- 8. Sugar, Florida vs. Louisville (+13.5), Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m.: Many were hoping for a Florida-Oklahoma Sugar Bowl, but when Northern Illinois earned a BCS spot, the Cardinals were bumped to New Orleans. The Gators are 11-1 and rode a tough defense to this point, but Louisville can score points. Something will give here.

-- 7. Orange, Florida State vs. Northern Illinois (+14), Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m.: For those sleeping on this matchup, consider the Seminoles lost to 7-5 North Carolina State this season and again underachieved. Many predicted FSU to play for it all in 2012. With QB Jordan Lynch, the Huskies won't go quietly.

-- 6. Outback, Michigan (+4.5) vs. South Carolina, Jan. 1, 1 p.m.: If you've enjoyed watching Denard Robinson's exploits at Michigan, there's one final opportunity to watch him in maize and blue. The native of Florida plays his final college game on New Year's Day.

-- 5. Chic-fil-A, Clemson (+4) vs. LSU, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m.: Another matchup of a great offense (Clemson) vs. a great defense (LSU). This is great New Year's Day primer.

-- 4. Fiesta, Kansas State (+9) vs. Oregon, Jan. 3, 8:30 p.m.: These teams might have filled out the final two spots in a four-team playoff bracket had this been 2014, but for now it's an appetizer for the BCS championship game. Wildcats QB Collin Klein is a lot of fun to watch, as is the Ducks' offense, but whichever team's defense plays the best will likely decide the winner.

-- 3. Rose, Stanford vs. Wisconsin (+6.5), Jan. 1, 5 p.m.: New Year's Day. Late afternoon. Pasadena, Calif. Where else are you going to be? Turn on your big screen, relax, have a feast and enjoy the real attraction in what should be a black-and-blue matchup: The Rose Bowl itself.

-- 2. Cotton, Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma (+4.5), Jan. 4, 8 p.m.: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has to be ecstatic about landing Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M against the always-popular Sooners. This should be a sellout, even in Jerry's World with a capacity of 100,000, and have the feel of a BCS bowl game.

-- 1. BCS National Championship, Notre Dame vs. Alabama, Jan. 7, 8:30 p.m.: How can the game to decide everything not be No. 1? Whether you love the Fighting Irish or not -- there's usually no in between -- you know you'll be watching.